Aggregating compositions, modified particulate metal-oxides, modified formation surfaces, and methods for making and using same

ABSTRACT

A method for treating solid materials is disclosed, where the treating compositions coats surfaces or portions of surfaces of the solid materials changing an aggregation or agglomeration propensity of the materials. Treating composition and treated solid materials are also disclosed. The methods and treated materials are ideally suited for oil field applications.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/465,437, filed 13 May 2009 (May 13, 2009), nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,466,094, issued 18 Jun. 2013 (Jun. 18, 2013).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to compositions includingaggregating agents for solid materials, substrates or surfaces, wherethe materials, substrates or surfaces include metal oxide or ceramicsolid materials, substrates or surfaces (natural or synthetic), metallicsolid materials, substrates or surfaces, polymeric or plastic solidmaterials, substrates or surfaces (natural or synthetic), solid plantmaterials, substrates or surfaces (natural or treated), or other typesof solid materials, substrates or surfaces or formation surfaces,formation particulate, and formation fines and methods for making andusing same.

More particularly, the present invention relate to compositionsincluding aggregating agents for particulate solid materials orsubstrates, where the aggregating agents modify surface properties ofsolid surfaces and surfaces of particulate solid materials increasingtheir aggregating propensity or properties. The present invention alsorelates to coated or modified surfaces and/or particulate solidmaterials capable of self-aggregation or aggregating to a coatedsurface. The present invention also relates to methods for aggregatingparticulate solid materials and for aggregating particulate solidmaterials to treated solid surfaces, especially in downhole applicationsand in any other application where particulate metal oxide-containingsolids aggregation is desirable. Embodiments of the present inventionare ideally suitable for drilling, completion, fracturing or otheroil/gas well operations, where particulate control is needed, enhancedproduction, reduced flow back, reduced water block in, enhanced loadrecovery, and changes in zeta potential or aggregation propensity ofparticulate.

2. Description of the Related Art

Historically the use of tacky-sticky materials within a particulateladen fluid whereby particulate flowback is reduced or prevented isdated back to 1998. U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,986 assignee to Halliburtonshows mainly how the use of polyamides product mainly from thecondensation of polyamines and di-acids is capable of decrease ofsubstantially eliminates the flowback of particulates whether proppantor formation fines. U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,847 granted to Weatherford showsthat the product of the reaction between a primary amine and a phosphateester is capable of change the aggregation or agglomeration propensityof the materials.

In many situations, sand, particulate metal oxide-containing solids orother particulate materials or solid materials are difficult toconsolidate in underground formations once placed due to their inabilityto aggregate or to cling to each other or to form aggregated masses thatallow formation fluid flow back through the placed or pumped-in fluidswithout flowing solids back to the surface. In addition, othersituations occur where formation sand flows due to formationunconsolidated characteristics, and the flowing sand is transported tothe surface during well production.

Although several technologies now exist for tackifying such particulatesolid with a tackifying agent, there is a need in the art of a differenttreating composition to cause such particulate solids to self-aggregateand to methods for making self-aggregating particulate solids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Compositions

The present invention provides a particulate solid material such as ametal oxide-containing solid having improved self-aggregatingproperties. The improved self-aggregating or aggregation propensity ofthe particles derives from the surfaces of the particulate solids havinga coating including a polymer including repeat units derived from vinylmonomers including a cyclic or aromatic nitrogen-containing ring or ringsystem or a polymer having repeat units derived from a heterocyclic orheterocyclic aromatic vinyl monomer, where the hetero atom is a nitrogenatom or a nitrogen atom and another hetero atoms selected from the groupconsisting of a boron atom, an oxygen atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfuratom, and/or a germanium and optionally a reaction product of an amineand a phosphate-containing compound. The coating can also include areaction product of an amine and a phosphate containing compound.

The present invention provides particulate solid material such as ametal oxide-containing solids having a coating including a polymerincluding repeat units derived from vinyl monomers including a cyclic oraromatic nitrogen-containing ring or ring system and optionally areaction product of an amine and a phosphate containing compound, wherethe coating deforms under pressure and imparts an enhanced aggregatingpropensity to the solid particles.

The present invention provides an aggregated particulate solid materialsuch as metal oxide-containing solid composition including a particulatemetal oxide-containing solid coated with a polymer having repeat unitsderived from a heterocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic vinyl monomer,where the hetero atom is a nitrogen atom or a nitrogen atom and anotherhetero atoms selected from the group consisting of a boron atom, anoxygen atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and/or a germanium andoptionally a reaction product of an amine and a phosphate-containingcompound, where the coating is deformable.

The present invention provides a substrate having surfaces partially orcompleted coated with a composition of this invention comprising apolymer having repeat units derived from a heterocyclic or heterocyclicaromatic vinyl monomer, where the hetero atom is a nitrogen atom or anitrogen atom and another hetero atoms selected from the groupconsisting of a boron atom, an oxygen atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfuratom, and/or a germanium and optionally a reaction product of an amineand a phosphate-containing compound, where the coating is deformable andwhere the substrate is ideally suited for filtering fines and/or otherparticulate materials form a fluid, especially fluids used in oil/gaswell drilling, completion, production, fracturing, propping, otherproduction enhancing processes or other related applications. Thestructures can be ceramic or ceramic fibers or wools coated partially orcompletely with the compositions of this invention. Such structures arewell suited for filter media to be used with or without screens.

Method for Treating

The present invention provides a method for changing an aggregationpotential or propensity of a particulate solid material such as a metaloxide-containing solid, where the method includes the step of contactingthe particulate solid material with a composition including a polymerhaving repeat units derived from a heterocyclic or heterocyclic aromaticvinyl monomer, where the hetero atom is a nitrogen atom or a nitrogenatom and another hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of aboron atom, an oxygen atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and/or agermanium and optionally a reaction product of an amine and aphosphate-containing compound under conditions sufficient for the amineand phosphate containing compound to react forming a coating compositioncapable of partially or completely coating solid surfaces.

Methods for Using the Treating Methods Fracturing

The present invention provides a method for fracturing a formationincluding the step of pumping a fracturing fluid including a proppantinto a producing formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture theformation and to enhance productivity, where the proppant props open theformation after fracturing and where the proppant comprises aparticulate solid treated with a treating composition comprising apolymer including repeat units derived from vinyl monomers including acyclic or aromatic nitrogen-containing ring or ring system andoptionally a reaction product of an amine and a phosphate containingcompound under conditions sufficient for the amine and phosphatecontaining compound to react forming a coating composition capable ofpartially or completely coating solid surfaces.

The present invention provides a method for fracturing a formationincluding the step of pumping a fracturing fluid including a proppantand an aggregating composition of this invention into a producingformation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation and toenhance productivity. The composition results in a modification of anaggregation propensity, and/or zeta-potential of the proppant, formationparticles and formation surfaces so that the formation particles and/orproppant aggregate and/or cling to the formation surfaces.

The present invention provides a method for fracturing a formationincluding the step of pumping a fracturing fluid including anaggregating composition of this invention into a producing formation ata pressure sufficient to fracture the formation and to enhanceproductivity. The composition results in a modification of anaggregation propensity and/or zeta-potential of the formation particlesand formation surfaces so that the formation particles aggregate and/orcling to the formation surfaces. The method can also include the step ofpumping a proppant comprising a coated particulate solid composition ofthis invention after fracturing so that the coated particles prop openthe fracture formation and tend to aggregate to the formation surfacesand/or formation particles formed during fracturing.

Drilling

The present invention provides a method for drilling including the stepof while drilling, circulating a drilling fluid, to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal, where the drilling fluidincludes an aggregating composition of this invention. The compositionincreases an aggregation potential or propensity and/or alters a zetapotential of any particulate metal oxide-containing solid in thedrilling fluid or that becomes entrained in the drilling fluid toincrease solids removal. The method can be operated in over-pressureconditions or under-balanced conditions or under managed pressureconditions. The method is especially well tailored to under-balanced ormanaged pressure conditions.

The present invention provides a method for drilling including the stepof while drilling, circulating a first drilling fluid to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal. Upon encountering anunderground structure that produces undesirable quantities ofparticulate solids, changing the first drilling fluid to a seconddrilling fluid including a composition of this invention to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal and to increase anaggregation potential or decrease the absolute value of the zetapotential of any particulate solids in the drilling fluid or thatbecomes entrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal. Themethod can be operated in over-pressure conditions or under-balancedconditions or under managed pressure conditions. The method isespecially well tailored to under-balanced or managed pressureconditions.

The present invention provides a method for drilling including the stepof while drilling, circulating a first drilling fluid to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal. Upon encountering anunderground structure that produces undesirable quantities ofparticulate solids, changing the first drilling fluid to a seconddrilling fluid including a composition of this invention to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal and to increase anaggregation potential or decrease in the absolute value of the zetapotential of any particulate solids in the drilling fluid or thatbecomes entrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal.After passing through the structure that produces an undesiredquantities of particulate solids, change the second drilling fluid tothe first drilling fluid or a third drilling fluid. The method can beoperated in over-pressure conditions or under-balanced conditions orunder managed pressure conditions. The method is especially welltailored to under-balanced or managed pressure conditions.

The present invention provides a method for completion of a wellincluding the step of treating the well with a fluid including acomposition of this invention adapted to increase an aggregationpotential or decrease in the absolute value of the zeta potential ofparticulate solids and fines and formation surfaces resulting in fineand sand migration and increasing productivity of the well especiallygas productivity.

Producing

The present invention provides a method for producing including the stepof circulating and/or pumping a fluid into a well on production, wherethe fluid includes a composition of this invention, which increases anaggregation potential or decreases the absolute value of the zetapotential of any particulate solid in the fluid or that becomesentrained in the fluid to increase solid particle removal and todecrease the potential of the particles to plug the formation and/or theproduction tubing.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling sand orfines migration including the step of pumping a fluid including acomposition of this invention through a matrix at a rate and pressureinto a formation to control sand and fine production or migration intothe production fluids.

The present invention also provide another method for controlling sandor fines migration including the step of depositing a coated particulatesolid material of this invention adjacent screen-type sand and finescontrol devices so that the sand and/or fines are attracted to thecoated particles and do not encounter or foul the screen of thescreen-type device.

The aggregating composition of this invention include polymers includingrepeat units of cyclic or aromatic amines like quinoline or alkylquinoline, anilines or alkyl anilines, pyrrole or alkyl pyrrole,piperidine or alkyl piperidine, pirrolidine or alkyl pyrrolidine,Imidazole or alkyl imidazole, pyrazine or alkyl pyrazine, pyrimidine oralkyl pyrimidine, quinazoline or alkyl quinazoline.

Basically the difference of this approach to previous art is that thisis not based in polyamides or quaternized cyclic and aromatic amines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdetailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings inwhich like elements are numbered the same:

FIG. 1 depicts agglomeration properties of 20/40 sand before treatmentand after treatment with a treating fluid including Formulation 1 at aconcentration of 6 gal of Formula 1 per 1000 lb of sand.

FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of a liquid permeability apparatus used in thisinvention.

FIG. 3 depicts a diagram of a gas permeability apparatus used in thisinvention.

FIG. 4 depicts a plot of relative permeability versus number of porousvolumes of gas for treating composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have found that a composition can be produced that, whenadded to a particulate metal-oxide-containing solid or other solidmaterials or to a suspension or dispersion including a particulatemetal-oxide-containing solid or other solid materials, the particles aremodified so that an aggregation propensity, aggregation potential and/ora zeta potential of the particles are altered. The inventors have alsofound that metal-oxide-containing solid particles or other solidparticles can be prepared having modified surfaces or portions thereof,where the modified particles have improved aggregation tendencies and/orpropensities and/or alter particle zeta potentials. The inventors havealso found that the compositions and/or the modifiedmetal-oxide-containing solid or other solid particles can be used in oilfield applications including drilling, fracturing, producing, injecting,sand control, or any other downhold application. The inventors have alsofound that the modified particulate metal-oxide-containing solidparticles or particles of any other solid material can be used any otherapplication where increased particle aggregation potentials aredesirable or where decreased absolute values of the zeta potential ofthe particles, which is a measure of aggregation propensity. Theinventors have also found that a coated particulatemetal-oxide-containing solid compositions can be formed, where thecoating is deformable and the coated particles tend to self-aggregateand tend to cling to surfaces having similar coatings or having similarchemical and/or physical properties to that of the coating. That is tosay, that the coated particles tend to prefer like compositions, whichincrease their self-aggregation propensity and increase their ability toadhere to surface that have similar chemical and/or physical properties.The inventors have found that the coating compositions of this inventionare distinct from known compositions for modifying particle aggregationpropensities and that the coated particles are ideally suited asproppants, where the particles have altered zeta potentials that changethe charge on the particles causing them to attract and agglomerate. Thechange in zeta potential or aggregation propensity causes each particleto have an increased frictional drag keeping the proppant in thefracture. The compositions are also ideally suited for decreasing finesmigrating into a fracture pack or to decrease the adverse impact offines migration into a fractured pack.

The chemical systems of this invention can be used as aggregatingreagents mainly to control proppant flow back and fine movement as wellas improving gas production and load recovery of fracture and squeezejobs.

In the case of drilling, the compositions of this invention can be usedto coat the formation and formation cuttings during drilling, becausethe particle tend to self aggregate and/or cling to similar modifiedformation surfaces. Again, an advantage of the self-aggregation is areduced tendency of the cuttings to foul or plug screens. Additionaladvantages are to coat the formation walls with a composition of thisinvention during drilling to consolidate the formation and toconsolidate or aggregate fines or particles in the drilling fluid tokeep the rheological properties of the drilling fluid from changing andincreasing equivalent circulating density (ECD).

Compositions

The invention broadly relates to a composition including a polymerhaving repeat units derived from a heterocyclic or heterocyclic aromaticvinyl monomer, where the hetero atom is a nitrogen atom or a nitrogenatom and another hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of aboron atom, an oxygen atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and/or agermanium and optionally a reaction product of an amine and aphosphate-containing compound. The composition modifies surfaces ofsolid materials or portions thereof altering the chemical and/orphysical properties of the surfaces. The altered properties permit thesurfaces to become self attracting or to permit the surfaces to beattractive to material having similar chemical and/or physicalproperties. In the case of particles including metal oxide particlessuch as particles of silica, alumina, titania, magnesia, zirconia, othermetal oxides or oxides including a mixture of these metal oxides(natural or synthetic), the composition forms a complete or partialcoating on the surfaces of the particles. The coating can interact withthe surface by chemical and/or physical interactions including, withoutlimitation, chemical bonds, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions,dipolar interactions, hyperpolarizability interactions, cohesion,adhesion, adherence, mechanical adhesion or any other chemical and/orphysical interaction that allows a coating to form on the particles. Thecoated particles have a greater aggregation or agglomeration propensitythan the uncoated particles. Thus, the particles before treatment may befree flowing, while after coating are not free flowing, but tend toclump, aggregate or agglomerate. In cases, where the composition is usedto coat surfaces of a geological formation, a synthetic metal oxidestructure and/or metal-oxide containing particles, the particles willnot only tend to aggregate together, the particles also will tend tocling to the coated formation or structural surfaces.

Treated Structures and Substrates

The present invention also broadly relates to structures and substratestreated with a composition of this invention, where the structures andsubstrates include surfaces that are partially or completely coated witha composition of this invention. The structures or substrates can beceramic or metallic or fibrous. The structures or substrates can be spunsuch as a glass wool or steel wool or can be honeycombed like catalyticconverters or the like that include channels that force fluid to flowthrough tortured paths so that particles in the fluid are forced incontact with the substrate or structured surfaces. Such structures orsubstrates are ideally suited as particulate filters or sand controlmedia.

Methods for Treating Particulate Solids

The present invention broadly relates to a method for treating metaloxide-containing surfaces including the step of contacting the metaloxide-containing surface with a composition of this invention. Thecomposition forms a coating on the surface altering the properties ofthe surface so that the surface is now capable to interacting withsimilarly treated surfaces to form agglomerated and/or aggregatedstructures. The treating can be designed to coat continuous metal oxidecontaining surfaces and/or the surfaces of metal oxide containingparticles. If both are treated, then the particles cannot onlyself-aggregate, but the particles can also aggregate, agglomerate and/orcling to the coted continuous surfaces. The compositions can be used infracturing fluids, in drilling fluids, in completion fluids, in sandcontrol applications or any other downhole application. Additionally,the coated particles can be used in fracturing fluids. Moreover,structures, screens or filters coated with the compositions of thisinvention can be used to attract and remove fines that have beenmodified with the compositions of this invention.

Method for Fracturing and/or Propping

The present invention broadly relates to methods for fracturing aformation including the step of pumping a fracturing fluid including acomposition of this invention into a producing formation at a pressuresufficient to fracture the formation. The composition modifies anaggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation particles andformation surfaces during fracturing so that the formation particlesaggregate and/or cling to the formation surfaces or each otherincreasing fracturing efficiency and increasing productivity of thefracture formation. The composition of this invention can also be usedin a pre-pad step to modify the surfaces of the formation so that duringfracturing the formation surfaces are pre-coated. The prepad stepinvolves pumping a fluid into the formation ahead of the treatment toinitiate the fracture and to expose the formation face with fluidsdesigned to protect the formation. Beside just using the composition aspart of the fracturing fluid, the fracturing fluid can also includeparticles that have been prior treated with the composition of thisinvention, where the treated particles act as proppants to prop open theformation after fracturing. If the fracturing fluid also includes thecomposition, then the coated particle proppant will adhere to formationsurfaces to a greater degree than would uncoated particle proppant.

In an alternate embodiment of this invention, the fracturing fluidincludes particles coated with a composition of this invention asproppant. In this embodiment, the particles have a greaterself-aggregation propensity and will tend to aggregate in locations thatmay most need to be propped open. In all fracturing applicationsincluding proppants coated with or that become coated with thecomposition of this invention during fracturing, the coated proppantsare likely to have improved formation penetration and adherenceproperties. These greater penetration and adherence or adhesionproperties are due not only to a difference in the surface chemistry ofthe particles relative to the surface chemistry of un-treated particles,but also due to a deformability of the coating itself. Thus, theinventors believe that as the particles are being forced into theformation, the coating will deform to allow the particles to penetrateinto a position and as the pressure is removed the particles will tendto remain in place due to the coating interaction with the surface anddue to the relaxation of the deformed coating.

Method for Drilling

The present invention also broadly relates to a method for drillingincluding the step of, while drilling, circulating a drilling fluid toprovide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal, where thedrill fluid includes a composition of this invention, which increases anaggregation potential or decrease an absolute value of the zetapotential of any particulate solids in the drilling fluid or thatbecomes entrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal.

The present invention also broadly relates to a method for drillingincluding the step of while drilling, circulating a first drilling fluidto provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal. Uponencountering an underground structure that produces undesirablequantities of particulate solids including metal oxide-containingsolids, changing the first drilling fluid for a second drilling fluidincluding a composition of this invention to provide bit lubrication,heat removal and cutting removal and to increase an aggregationpotential or decrease an absolute value of the zeta potential of anysolid including particulate metal oxide-containing solids in thedrilling fluid or that becomes entrained in the drilling fluid toincrease solids removal.

The present invention also broadly relates to a method for drillingincluding the step of, while drilling, circulating a first drillingfluid to provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal. Uponencountering an underground structure that produces undesirablequantities of particulate solids including metal oxide-containingsolids, changing the first drilling fluid for a second drilling fluidincluding a composition of this invention to provide bit lubrication,heat removal and cutting removal and to increase an aggregationpotential or zeta potential of any particulate solid including metaloxide-containing solid in the drilling fluid or that becomes entrainedin the drilling fluid to increase solids removal. After passing throughthe structure that produces an undesired quantities of particulate metaloxide-containing solids, change the second drilling fluid for the firstdrilling fluid or a third drilling fluid.

Method for Producing

The present invention also broadly relates to a method for producingincluding the step of circulating and/or pumping a fluid into, where thefluid includes a composition of this invention, which increases anaggregation potential or decreases an absolute value of the zetapotential of any particulate solid including a metal oxide-containingsolid in the fluid or that becomes entrained in the fluid to increasesolids removal and to decrease the potential of the particles pluggingthe formation and/or production tubing.

Suitable Agents

Suitable amines include, without limitation, any amine that is capableof reacting with a suitable phosphate containing compound to form acomposition that forms a deformable coating on a metal-oxide-containingsurface. Exemplary examples of such amines include, without limitation,any amine of the general formula R¹,R²NH or mixtures or combinationsthereof, where R¹ and R² are independently a hydrogen atom or a carbylgroup having between about between about 1 and 40 carbon atoms and therequired hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and where one or more ofthe carbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atoms selectedfrom the group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfuror mixture or combinations thereof and where one or more of the hydrogenatoms can be replaced by one or more single valence atoms selected fromthe group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or mixturesor combinations thereof. Exemplary examples of amines suitable for usein this invention include, without limitation, aniline and alkylanilines or mixtures of alkyl anilines, pyridines and alkyl pyridines ormixtures of alkyl pyridines, pyrrole and alkyl pyrroles or mixtures ofalkyl pyrroles, piperidine and alkyl piperidines or mixtures of alkylpiperidines, pyrrolidine and alkyl pyrrolidines or mixtures of alkylpyrrolidines, indole and alkyl indoles or mixture of alkyl indoles,imidazole and alkyl imidazole or mixtures of alkyl imidazole, quinolineand alkyl quinoline or mixture of alkyl quinoline, isoquinoline andalkyl isoquinoline or mixture of alkyl isoquinoline, pyrazine and alkylpyrazine or mixture of alkyl pyrazine, quinoxaline and alkyl quinoxalineor mixture of alkyl quinoxaline, acridine and alkyl acridine or mixtureof alkyl acridine, pyrimidine and alkyl pyrimidine or mixture of alkylpyrimidine, quinazoline and alkyl quinazoline or mixture of alkylquinazoline, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable phosphate containing compounds include, without limitation, anyphosphate acid and/or any phosphate ester that is capable of reactingwith a suitable amine to form a composition that forms a deformablecoating on a metal-oxide containing surface or partially or completelycoats particulate materials. Exemplary examples of such phosphate estersinclude, without limitation, any phosphate esters of the general formulaP(O)(OR³)(OR⁴)(OR⁵) or mixture or combinations thereof, where R³, R⁴,and OR⁵ are independently a hydrogen atom or a carbyl group havingbetween about between about 1 and 40 carbon atoms and the requiredhydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and where one or more of thecarbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atoms selected fromthe group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur ormixture or combinations thereof and where one or more of the hydrogenatoms can be replaced by one or more single valence atoms selected fromthe group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or mixturesor combinations thereof. Exemplary examples of phosphate esters include,without limitation, phosphate ester of alkanols having the generalformula P(O)(OH)_(x)(OR⁶)_(y) where x+y=3 and are independently ahydrogen atom or a carbyl group having between about between about 1 and40 carbon atoms and the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valenceand where one or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or morehetero atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and whereone or more of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more singlevalence atoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine,bromine, iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof such as ethoxyphosphate, propoxyl phosphate or higher alkoxy phosphates or mixtures orcombinations thereof. Other exemplary examples of phosphate estersinclude, without limitation, phosphate esters of alkanol amines havingthe general formula N[R⁷OP(O)(OH)₂]₃ where R⁷ is a carbenzyl grouphaving between about between about 1 and 40 carbon atoms and therequired hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and where one or more ofthe carbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atoms selectedfrom the group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfuror mixture or combinations thereof and where one or more of the hydrogenatoms can be replaced by one or more single valence atoms selected fromthe group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or mixturesor combinations thereof group including the tri-phosphate ester oftri-ethanol amine or mixtures or combinations thereof. Other exemplaryexamples of phosphate esters include, without limitation, phosphateesters of hydroxylated aromatics such as phosphate esters of alkylatedphenols such as Nonylphenyl phosphate ester or phenolic phosphateesters. Other exemplary examples of phosphate esters include, withoutlimitation, phosphate esters of diols and polyols such as phosphateesters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or higher glycolicstructures. Other exemplary phosphate esters include any phosphate esterthan can react with an amine and coated on to a substrate forms adeformable coating enhancing the aggregating potential of the substrate.Exemplary phosphate acids include phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acidor mixtures thereof.

Suitable solid materials suitable for being coated with the compositionsof this invention include, without limitation, metal oxides and/orceramics, natural or synthetic, metals, plastics and/or other polymericsolids, solid materials derived from plants, or any other solid materialthat does or may find use in downhole applications or mixtures orcombinations thereof. Metal oxides including any solid oxide of ametallic element of the periodic table of elements. Exemplary examplesof metal oxides and ceramics include actinium oxides, aluminum oxides,antimony oxides, boron oxides, barium oxides, bismuth oxides, calciumoxides, cerium oxides, cobalt oxides, chromium oxides, cesium oxides,copper oxides, dysprosium oxides, erbium oxides, europium oxides,gallium oxides, germanium oxides, iridium oxides, iron oxides, lanthanumoxides, lithium oxides, magnesium oxides, manganese oxides, molybdenumoxides, niobium oxides, neodymium oxides, nickel oxides, osmium oxides,palladium oxides, potassium oxides, promethium oxides, praseodymiumoxides, platinum oxides, rubidium oxides, rhenium oxides, rhodiumoxides, ruthenium oxides, scandium oxides, selenium oxides, siliconoxides, samarium oxides, silver oxides, sodium oxides, strontium oxides,tantalum oxides, terbium oxides, tellurium oxides, thorium oxides, tinoxides, titanium oxides, thallium oxides, thulium oxides, vanadiumoxides, tungsten oxides, yttrium oxides, ytterbium oxides, zinc oxides,zirconium oxides, ceramic structures prepared from one or more of theseoxides and mixed metal oxides including two or more of the above listedmetal oxides. Exemplary examples of plant materials include, withoutlimitation, shells of seed bearing plants such as walnut shells, pecanshells, peanut shells, shells for other hard shelled seed formingplants, ground wood or other fibrous cellulosic materials, or mixturesor combinations thereof.

Suitable polymers for use in the compositions of this inventionincludes, without limitation, any polymer including repeat units derivedfrom a heterocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic vinyl monomer, where thehetero atoms is a nitrogen atom or a combination of a nitrogen atom andanother hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of boron,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, germanium, and/or. The polymers can behomopolymers of cyclic or aromatic nitrogen-containing vinyl monomers,or copolymers of any ethylenically unsaturated monomers that willcopolymerize with a cyclic or aromatic nitrogen-containing vinylmonomer. Exemplary cyclic or aromatic nitrogen-containing vinyl monomersinclude, without limitation, vinyl pyrroles, substituted vinyl pyrroles,vinyl pyridines, substituted vinyl pyridines, vinyl quinolines orsubstituted vinyl quinolines, vinyl anilines or substituted vinylanilines, vinyl piperidines or substituted vinyl piperidines, vinylpirrolidines or substituted vinyl pyrrolidines, vinyl imidazole orsubstituted vinyl imidazole, vinyl pyrazine or substituted vinylpyrazines, vinyl pyrimidine or substituted vinyl pyrimidine, vinylquinazoline or substituted vinyl quinazoline, or mixtures orcombinations thereof. Exemplary pyridine monomer include 2-vinylpyridine, 4-vinyl pyridine, or mixtures or combinations thereof.Exemplary homopolymers include poly-2-vinyl pyridine, poly-4-vinylpyridine, and mixtures or combinations thereof. Exemplary copolymersincluding copolymers or 2-vinyl pyridine and 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of ethylene and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of propylene and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of acrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of methacrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinylpyridine, copolymers of acrylates and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinylpyridine, copolymers of methacrylates and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or4-vinyl pyridine, and mixtures of combinations thereof. All of thesemonomers can also includes substituents. Moreover, in all these vinylmonomers or ethylenically unsaturated monomers, one or more of thecarbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atoms selected fromthe group consisting of boron, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or mixture orcombinations thereof and where one or more of the hydrogen atoms can bereplaced by one or more single valence atoms selected from the groupconsisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or mixtures orcombinations thereof. Of course, all of these monomers includes at leastone nitrogen atom in the structure.

EXPERIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Purpose

We have evaluated sand aggregation and gas regain permeability in coreflooding tests of formulation 1 due changes in the Zeta Potential.

Formulation 1 Ingredients and Weight Percentages for Formulation 1

Components wt. % PAP-220^(†) 44.72 Phosphate Ester^(‡) 4.87 Methanol40.41 Reilline 410* 10.00 ^(†)Mixture of alkyl pyridines available fromVertellus ^(‡)Reaction product of 78.50 wt. % polyphosphoric acid and21.50 wt. % tri-ethanol amine *Mixture of poly 4 vinyl pyridineavailable from Vertellus

Procedure Agglomeration Properties

Treated and un-treated sand were tested by mixing 250 grams of 20/40Badger sand in slurries with concentrations of 6 gal of Formulation 1per 1000 lb of sand.

The sand was rinsed three times and poured into a clear PVC plasticcylinder.

Core Flooding Tests

Core tests were conducted in Berea Sand Stone cores of permeability toN₂ of 50-55 mD. The core same was 1.5 inches diameter and 3.5 incheslong.

The tests were started by measuring permeability to brine at a flow rateof 120 cc/min until 5 porous volume were collected and checking theDarcy Flow regime.

Flow of nitrogen was started with a differential pressure of 10 psirecording liquid collected in the other end of the core as well as gasflow rate for two hours.

Liquid saturation was then reestablished, when injecting 5 porous volumeof the treated brine with the load recovering agent.

Flow of nitrogen was then re-started with a differential pressure of 10psi measuring collected liquid and gas flow rate in the other end of thecore.

In all the tests, the overburden pressure was set in the radial andaxial direction of 1000 psi and the temperature at 70° F.

Results

Referring FIG. 1 compares the agglomeration properties of 20/40 sandbefore treated and after treated with formulation 1 using 6 gal oftreating system per 1000 lb of. In this case, it can be clearly observedthat treated sand did not fall when turned the plastic cylinder down.

Referring to FIG. 2, a diagram of Core Test Apparatus for determiningliquid permeability is shown, while FIG. 3, a diagram of Core TestApparatus for determining gas permeability.

Referring FIG. 4 compares the agglomeration properties of 20/40 sandbefore treated and after treated with formulation 1 using 6 gal oftreating system per 1000 lb of. In this case it can be clearly observedthat treated sand did not fall when turned the plastic cylinder down.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. Although theinvention has been disclosed with reference to its preferredembodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art mayappreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not departfrom the scope and spirit of the invention as described above andclaimed hereafter.

We claim:
 1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled) 5.(canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled) 10.(canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled) 19.(canceled)
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)24. (canceled)
 25. The method of claim 34, wherein a pressure of thedrilling fluid is operated in an over-balanced pressure condition, anunder-balanced pressure condition or a managed pressure condition. 26.(canceled)
 27. (canceled)
 28. (canceled)
 29. (canceled)
 30. (canceled)31. (canceled)
 32. (canceled)
 33. (canceled)
 34. A method for drillingcomprising the step of: while drilling, circulating a drilling fluid, toprovide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal, where thedrilling fluid includes an aggregating composition including a polymercomprising homopolymers selected from the group consisting ofpoly-2-vinyl pyridine, poly-4-vinyl pyridine, and mixtures orcombinations thereof and copolymers selected from the group consistingof copolymers of 2-vinyl pyridine and 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofethylene and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofpropylene and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofacrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofmethacrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of acrylates and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of methacrylates and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinylpyridine, and mixtures or combinations thereof and where the compositionincreases an aggregation potential or propensity and/or alters a zetapotential of any particulate solid in the drilling fluid or that becomesentrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal.
 35. Themethod of claim 34, further comprising a reaction product of an amineand a phosphate-containing compound.
 36. The method of claim 35, whereinthe amine comprises amines having the general formula R¹,R²NH ormixtures or combinations thereof, where R¹ and R² are independently ahydrogen atom or a carbyl group having between about between about 1 and40 carbon atoms and the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valenceand where one or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or morehetero atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and whereone or more of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more singlevalence atoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine,bromine, iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof and thephosphate-containing compound comprises phosphate acids and estershaving the general formula P(O)(OR³)(OR⁴)(OR⁵) or mixture orcombinations thereof, where R³, R⁴, and OR⁵ are independently a hydrogenatom or a carbyl group having between about between about 1 and 40carbon atoms and the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence andwhere one or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or morehetero atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and whereone or more of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more singlevalence atoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine,bromine, iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof or polymeric formsthereof.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the amine is selected fromthe group consisting of aniline and alkyl anilines or mixtures of alkylanilines, pyridines and alkyl pyridines or mixtures of alkyl pyridines,pyrrole and alkyl pyrroles or mixtures of alkyl pyrroles, piperidine andalkyl piperidines or mixtures of alkyl piperidines, pyrrolidine andalkyl pyrrolidines or mixtures of alkyl pyrrolidines, indole and alkylindoles or mixture of alkyl indoles, imidazole and alkyl imidazole ormixtures of alkyl imidazole, quinoline and alkyl quinoline or mixture ofalkyl quinoline, isoquinoline and alkyl isoquinoline or mixture of alkylisoquinoline, pyrazine and alkyl pyrazine or mixture of alkyl pyrazine,quinoxaline and alkyl quinoxaline or mixture of alkyl quinoxaline,acridine and alkyl acridine or mixture of alkyl acridine, pyrimidine andalkyl pyrimidine or mixture of alkyl pyrimidine, quinazoline and alkylquinazoline or mixture of alkyl quinazoline, or mixtures or combinationsthereof.
 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the phosphate-containingcompound comprises phosphate esters of alkanols having the generalformula P(O)(OH)_(x)(OR⁶)_(y) where x+y=3 and are independently ahydrogen atom or a carbyl group having between about between about 1 and40 carbon atoms and the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valenceand where one or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or morehetero atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and whereone or more of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more singlevalence atoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine,bromine, iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof such as ethoxyphosphate, propoxyl phosphate or higher alkoxy phosphates or mixtures orcombinations thereof.
 39. The method of claim 36, wherein thephosphate-containing compound comprises phosphate esters of alkanolamines having the general formula N[R⁷OP(O)(OH)₂]₃ where R⁷ is acarbenzyl group having between about between about 1 and 40 carbon atomsand the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and where one ormore of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atomsselected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen,phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and where one ormore of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more single valenceatoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine,iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof group including thetri-phosphate ester of tri-ethanol amine or mixtures or combinationsthereof.
 40. A method for drilling comprising the step of: whiledrilling, circulating a first drilling fluid, to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal, upon encountering anunderground structure that produces undesirable quantities ofparticulate solids, changing the first drilling fluid to a seconddrilling fluid including an aggregating composition comprising a polymercomprising homopolymers selected from the group consisting ofpoly-2-vinyl pyridine, poly-4-vinyl pyridine, and mixtures orcombinations thereof and copolymers selected from the group consistingof copolymers of 2-vinyl pyridine and 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofethylene and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofpropylene and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofacrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine, copolymers ofmethacrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of acrylates and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinyl pyridine,copolymers of methacrylates and 2-vinyl pyridine and/or 4-vinylpyridine, and mixtures or combinations thereof to provide bitlubrication, heat removal and cutting removal and to increase anaggregation potential or decrease the absolute value of a zeta potentialof any particulate solids in the drilling fluid or that becomesentrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal.
 41. Themethod of claim 40, further comprising the step of: after passingthrough the structure that produces an undesired quantities ofparticulate solids, changing the second drilling fluid to the firstdrilling fluid or to a third drilling fluid.
 42. The method of claim 41,wherein a pressure of the first drilling fluid, the second drillingfluid and the third drilling fluid are operated in an over-balancedpressure condition, an under-balanced pressure condition, or a managedpressure condition.
 43. The method of claim 40, wherein the seconddrilling fluid further comprising a reaction product of an amine and aphosphate-containing compound.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein theamine comprises amines having the general formula R¹,R²NH or mixtures orcombinations thereof, where R¹ and R² are independently a hydrogen atomor a carbyl group having between about between about 1 and 40 carbonatoms and the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and whereone or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen,phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and where one ormore of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more single valenceatoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine,iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof and the phosphate-containingcompound comprises phosphate acids and esters having the general formulaP(O)(OR³)(OR⁴)(OR⁵) or mixture or combinations thereof, where R³, R⁴,and OR⁵ are independently a hydrogen atom or a carbyl group havingbetween about between about 1 and 40 carbon atoms and the requiredhydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and where one or more of thecarbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atoms selected fromthe group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur ormixture or combinations thereof and where one or more of the hydrogenatoms can be replaced by one or more single valence atoms selected fromthe group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or mixturesor combinations thereof or polymeric forms thereof.
 45. The method ofclaim 44, wherein the amine is selected from the group consisting ofaniline and alkyl anilines or mixtures of alkyl anilines, pyridines andalkyl pyridines or mixtures of alkyl pyridines, pyrrole and alkylpyrroles or mixtures of alkyl pyrroles, piperidine and alkyl piperidinesor mixtures of alkyl piperidines, pyrrolidine and alkyl pyrrolidines ormixtures of alkyl pyrrolidines, indole and alkyl indoles or mixture ofalkyl indoles, imidazole and alkyl imidazole or mixtures of alkylimidazole, quinoline and alkyl quinoline or mixture of alkyl quinoline,isoquinoline and alkyl isoquinoline or mixture of alkyl isoquinoline,pyrazine and alkyl pyrazine or mixture of alkyl pyrazine, quinoxalineand alkyl quinoxaline or mixture of alkyl quinoxaline, acridine andalkyl acridine or mixture of alkyl acridine, pyrimidine and alkylpyrimidine or mixture of alkyl pyrimidine, quinazoline and alkylquinazoline or mixture of alkyl quinazoline, or mixtures or combinationsthereof.
 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the phosphate-containingcompound comprises phosphate esters of alkanols having the generalformula P(O)(OH)(OR⁶)_(y) where x+y=3 and are independently a hydrogenatom or a carbyl group having between about between about 1 and 40carbon atoms and the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence andwhere one or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or morehetero atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and whereone or more of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more singlevalence atoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine,bromine, iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof such as ethoxyphosphate, propoxyl phosphate or higher alkoxy phosphates or mixtures orcombinations thereof.
 47. The method of claim 44, wherein thephosphate-containing compound comprises phosphate esters of alkanolamines having the general formula N[R⁷OP(O)(OH)₂]₃ where R⁷ is acarbenzyl group having between about between about 1 and 40 carbon atomsand the required hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valence and where one ormore of the carbon atoms can be replaced by one or more hetero atomsselected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen, oxygen,phosphorus, sulfur or mixture or combinations thereof and where one ormore of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by one or more single valenceatoms selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine,iodine or mixtures or combinations thereof group including thetri-phosphate ester of tri-ethanol amine or mixtures or combinationsthereof.